Improved insole



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ROBRT O. LfOWREY.` OF SALEM,NEV W YORK.

Lettersrfatcnt No. 88,494, dated Mez/rch 30,1869.

The Schedule referred 4to :ln these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

Mpc-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT O. L OWREY, of Salem, in the county of Washington, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WaterfProof Insole-Slippers; and I-do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, like letters indicating like parts wherever they occur.

To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

My invention relates to water-proof protection for the feet, and consists. in the manufacture of a-wate'rproof slipper, to be worn inside cfa boot or shoe.

In the drawings- Figure l is a perspective view of a slipper,complete;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a slipper without any heel-piece and A Figure 3 is a perspective view of the upper, partly complete, dac.

Heretofore it has been customary to protect the feet vfrom water, or dampness, bythe use of over-shoes, made of India rubber, or other water-proof material. For many purposes these are found oftentimes to he inconvenient, and, besides, whenmosiI needed, are frequently where they cannot be had.

Instead of over-shoes made of water-proof material, the boots or shoes are sometimes manufactured with a layer, or lining of waterfproof material in the sole or upper, or in both;v but these are seldom found to furnish thc protection desired; besides, as the boot or shoe wears out, this lining becomes injured, so as to vbe of little service. g The object of my invention is to furnislra soft, light,

closely-fitting slipper, made of water-proof material,

`that may be conveniently worn 'inside of a boot or shoe, and without taking up any more room than is occupied by the ordinary stocking, or sock.

In constructing my water-proof insole slipper, I take any snitable-iibrous fabric, Whetherwoven, knitted, felted, or flocked, and made sufiiciently thin, or light for the purpose, and water-proof it with a thin sheet of rubber, rolled on its surface,or with any other water-proof material, by any of the well-known processes, and, with the usel of the requisite tools, cut out the uppers andsoles, and form .them on lasts in the usual way, so that they may have the form of Ia slipper, A, as shown, in fig. 1, or of the slipper B, as shown in tig. 2.

My water-proof insole-slipper may becheaply and conveniently made out of the material known to theY trade as stockinet cloth, and this material, for most purposes, I prefer. It is a thin, light, and elastic material, with a thin sheet of rubber compound rolled on one side of it, while the other is soft and elastic.

Out of this I cut two uppers, C D, of the same size,

suitable cement, as shown in iig. 3,'where a` portion of one of the uppers is shown turned back. In like manner I cut out two soles, and Cement their rubber surfaces together.

These uppers and soles I -then form upona last of the proper size, and cement, or -uuite them together, by any suitable means, Aso as to be thoroughly impervious to water.

I then place the last, with the slipper upon it, in a vulcanizing-oven, and -allow it to remain-there until the rubber is vulcanized, after which I remove it, when it is ready to be trimmed, and packed for the market.

As it is usually only desirable to protect the sole and sides of the feet, it may be made as shown in iig. l, or as shown in fig. 2. The former of these is designed to remain upon the foot aslit is inselted or removedfrom the boot or shoe, while the latter, as it h as no heel-piece, is designed to rel-nain, in the boot or shoe.

4It is obvious, that if desired, either of them may be fastened permanently or temporarily inthe boot or Shoes The upper side of the slipper I make very'open, as shown in all the figures, so as to allow for the escape of perspiration, and 'so that the foot may not be surrounded by 'an air-tight covering.

the soles, or as lining in the uppers, and is ready at all times for use.

It is obvious, that when desired, it` may be used has. a soft interior as well as exterior surface, and when used with a sock, or stocking, it willsave them,

of the foot as well. v

Being thinblight, and pliable, it can be conveniently packed, so as, to be easily carried from place to place, in and with the usual articles' taken by travellers, so as to be at hand for use when desired.

I do not confine myself, in its construction, to any particular kind of Water-proof material, but use that which is found "to be most convenient for the purpose. In this way, I am able tofurnish a cheap, useful, and convenient insole water-proof slipper.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim, is-

-A water-proof insole-slipper,.constructed substantially as herein described, to be Worn inside ofa boot or shoe, as set forth.

R. 0. LOW'REY.

Witnesses N. G. WHITE,

J G. GoULD.

and' fasten.' their rubber surfaces together with any' A slipper made in this form, it will thus be seen, protects the bottom and sides of the foot as well as an over-shoe, or as well as water-proof material between it partially supply the place of a sock, or stocking, as itV to some extent, from-wear, and will' add to the WarmthV l 

